Bible translation for the Nenets people group
The Nenets are the largest group of the Samoyed peoples. They live in north-western Siberia as well as the Arctic Ocean islands and the Kola Peninsula. It is a land characterised by the tundra – a country of permafrost, numerous rivers, and vast marshy areas. The climate is extreme, with snow falling up to 260 days a year and temperatures falling to as low as -50 degrees Celsius in the winter. Yet the Nenets need to hear the Gospel.
In the 18th century, the Russian Orthodox Church sent missionaries to the area. Later the Gospel was brought to this remote people group, but many continued to hold on to their animistic beliefs. Today there are some Nenets believers in village evangelical churches, but most live in the tundra.
There has been a growing awareness of the need to make God’s Word available to this isolated people group. With support from SGA, trial versions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have been published and, once final corrections have been made, an edition containing all four Gospels, together with Acts, is expected to be published later this year.
The work of translating the letters of the New Testament is also being undertaken. Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus are nearing completion, as are the epistles of John. It is planned to commence work on translating Philippians, Philemon and James soon.
The Nenets may live a great distance away, but through His Word they are, even now, being brought close to God.